An Exercise in Submission to One's Desires

Part Two: I Missed You

Anders slipped his fingers around Aonghas' head, as the younger man wrapped his arms around Anders' ribcage and pulled him closer, and began undoing the tightly tied braid. Once he had the hair free he dropped the ties and began running his fingers through the silk strands. Aonghas shifted against Anders as he murmured a long sentence into their joined mouths. Reluctantly Anders released the lips he had dreamed of for years and spoke softly. "What was that?"

"I said; first you can't stand having it block your view and now you can't get enough of running your fingers through it."

"I missed the feel of your hair. Your hair has now evened out so it's easier to push it out of your face, besides you always wear it back now so I will have plenty of opportunity to gaze at your beauty."

The younger man shifted and straightened up making Anders realize that Aonghas had grown a few more inches making him as tall as Anders. "I wish you wouldn't use feminine terms to describe me Anders."

"Handsome doesn't describe you well enough; beautiful does. You're as tall as me now."

"I hear that's what was supposed to happen. Lads grow into men and all that."

Anders couldn't help but laugh at Aonghas sarcasm. "Are you done growing then? How old are you now?"

"I suppose I could have another growth spurt coming. Why do you want to know how old I am? Surely learning my true age won't change how you feel about me." Anders could swear the younger man was attempting to manipulate him when Aonghas' bottom lip pouted slightly and he gave Anders a woebegone look.

"No, it won't change how I feel about you," answered Anders in a serious tone despite his urge to chuckle at Aonghas' behavior. "I was just wondering if you were twenty-one yet."

Anders fought to hold back a grin as Aonghas' face lit up with joy. "Not yet! I will be twenty-one in two months and some odd days."

Anders smiled and stopped stroking Aonghas' hair to grip the back of the younger man's head and pull him in for another kiss. He couldn't help but wonder at the fact that Aonghas seemed younger now than he had when they had first met. Was it the fact that Aonghas had been his commanding officer that had Anders not seeing Aonghas as he truly was? Or was the lack of that burden making it possible for Aonghas to slip into a younger more carefree version of himself? Of course Anders knew that Aonghas was a manipulator because he had witnessed it enough times, but this time it seemed less about getting his own way and more about the younger man's insecurity. Maybe it was Anders who had changed after all. Anders' confusion caused him to pull back from the kiss, but he managed to smile warmly. "We should talk."

Aonghas looked at him warily as he released Anders and took a step back, "What is it you wish to talk about?"